Tax 11.33(4)(a)2.2. The item is a motor vehicle and the transferor sells the motor vehicle to a corporation owned solely by the transferor or the transferor's spouse, provided the motor vehicle has been previously registered or titled in Wisconsin in the name of the transferor, if required to be registered or titled, and the transferor is not engaged in the business of selling motor vehicles. Transferor for purposes of this subdivision means a natural person.

Tax 11.33(4)(b)(b) Any sale of a boat that is registered or titled in Wisconsin or required to be registered or titled in Wisconsin or under the laws of the United States, is an exempt occasional sale only if one of the following applies:

Tax 11.33(4)(b)1.1. The sale is to a spouse, parent, stepparent, father-in-law, mother-in-law, child, stepchild, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law, of the transferor provided the property has been previously registered or titled in Wisconsin in the name of the transferor, if required to be registered or titled, and the transferor is not engaged in the business of selling boats.

Tax 11.33(4)(c)(c) Except as provided in pars. (a) and (b), five or fewer auctions that are the sale of personal farm property or household goods and that are held by the same auctioneer at the same location during the year. For indoor locations, "location" means a building, except that in the case of a shopping center or shopping mall, "location" means a store.

Tax 11.33(4)(d)(d) Except as provided in pars. (a) and (b), sales of tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., by an individual who operates a sole proprietorship and who holds or is required to hold a seller's permit, which have not been used in the course of the person's business and the sales are not the type of property, items, or goods sold in the course of the person's business. However, all tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., sold by a corporation or partnership which holds or is required to hold a seller's permit shall be considered to be used or sold in the course of the organization's business activities and are taxable.

Tax 11.33 NoteExample: A taxpayer operates a service station as a sole proprietor and holds a seller's permit for the purpose of selling cigarettes and repairing motor vehicles. The sales price from selling a refrigerator and stove used in the taxpayer's residence are not subject to the sales tax. However, the sales price from the sale of a desk and refrigerator which were used in the service station's business activities are subject to the sales tax.

Tax 11.33(4)(e)(e) Except as provided in pars. (a) and (b), the sale of a business or business assets, not including inventory held for sale, previously used by a seller to conduct its trade or business at a location after that person has ceased actively operating in the regular course of business as a seller of tangible personal property, items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., or taxable services at that location.

Tax 11.33 NoteNote: Refer to s. Tax 11.34 regarding the occasional sales exemption for the sale of a business or business assets.

Tax 11.33(4)(f)(f) Except as provided in pars. (a) and (b), sale of tangible personal property, items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., or taxable services by a person who does not hold and is not required to hold a seller's permit, if the total taxable sales price from sales of tangible personal property, items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., and taxable services are less than $1,000 during the calendar year. However, purchases of tangible personal property, items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., or taxable services which when resold are exempt under this paragraph, are taxable purchases by that person. This paragraph does not apply to nonprofit organizations.

Tax 11.33 NoteExamples: 1) If the sales price from a person's garage and rummage sales, lawn maintenance services, bait sales to fishermen, sales of books, charges for parking and other normally taxable receipts are less than $1,000 during the calendar year, that person's receipts are deemed exempt occasional sales under par. (f). However, purchases by the seller of the tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., which are sold are taxable.

Tax 11.33 Note2) Sales of soft drinks by employee groups are not taxable if the sales price from soft drink sales does not exceed $1,000 per year. These groups are deemed consumers and the supplier's sales to them are taxable retail sales.

Tax 11.33(5)(5)Sales which are not exempt occasional sales. Sales which are not exempt occasional sales, except as provided in sub. (4), include:

Tax 11.33(5)(a)(a) Sales by a person who holds or is required to hold a seller's permit.

Tax 11.33 NoteExample: Sales of used equipment by a retail store or vending machine retailer are not occasional sales and would be subject to sales or use tax.

Tax 11.33(5)(b)(b) Sales of a business or the assets of a business when the seller holds or is required to hold a seller's permit. The tax applies to the portion of the sales price reasonably attributable to the taxable personal property such as equipment, furniture and fixtures.

Tax 11.33 NoteExample: The sale by a sole proprietor holding a seller's permit of a motor vehicle used in the sole proprietor's business is taxable unless it qualifies as an exempt occasional sale under s. Tax 11.33 (4) (a) 1. or 2.

Tax 11.33(5)(d)(d) Sales made by persons who hold themselves out to the public as engaged in business, even though their sales may be few and infrequent. This includes the sales of works of art, handmade articles, antiques or used property by artists or others who are pursuing a vocation or part-time business as a seller of this property.

Tax 11.33(5)(e)(e) Sales of bingo supplies to players or the sale, rental or use of regular bingo cards, extra regular cards and special bingo cards.

Tax 11.33(5)(f)(f) Sales by persons engaged primarily in the business of making nontaxable sales of tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., such as manufacturers and wholesalers. Since these persons are in the business of selling tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., the mere fact that only a small fraction of their total sales are taxable retail sales does not make these sales exempt occasional sales.

Tax 11.33 NoteNote: The interpretations in s. Tax 11.33 are effective under the general sales and use tax law on and after September 1, 1969, except: (a) The exemption in sub. (3) (b) became effective March 1, 1979; (b) Non-retailer sales of all-terrain vehicles as described in sub. (4) (c) became taxable and the sale of an all-terrain vehicle as described in sub. (3) (c) and (d) became exempt effective September 1, 1987, pursuant to 1987 Wis. Act 27; (c) The exemption for the sale of a business or business assets in sub. (3) (e) became effective May 17, 1988, pursuant to 1987 Wis. Act 399; (d) The exemption for transfers of motor vehicles, boats, etc., to in-laws became effective August 15, 1991, pursuant to 1991 Wis. Act 39; (e) The occasional sales exemption for 5 or fewer auctions became effective January 1, 2000, pursuant to 1999 Wis. Act 9; (f) The term "mobile home" was changed to "recreational vehicle, as defined in s. 340.01 (48r), Stats." effective January 1, 2008, pursuant to 2007 Wis. Act 11; and (g) The change of the term "gross receipts" to "sales price" and the separate impositions of tax on coins and stamps sold above face value under s. 77.52 (1) (b), Stats., certain leased property affixed to real property under s. 77.52 (1) (c), Stats., and digital goods under s. 77.52 (1) (d), Stats., became effective October 1, 2009, pursuant to 2009 Wis. Act 2.

Tax 11.34(2)(a)(a) The sale of business assets, consisting of tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., by a person who holds or is required to hold a seller's permit at the time of the sale is subject to sales tax, except as provided in sub. (3) (c).

Tax 11.34(3)(a)(a) Pursuant to s. 77.51 (9) (a) and (am), Stats., a person holding or required to hold a seller's permit at the time of disposition of business assets may not claim that a sale of a business asset is an occasional sale, except as provided in par. (b).

Tax 11.34(3)(b)(b) A sale, other than a sale described in par. (bg) or (br), is exempt from sales and use tax as an occasional sale if all of the following conditions are met:

Tax 11.34(3)(b)1.1. The sale is of personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., other than inventory held for sale, previously used by a person to conduct a trade or business at a location.

Tax 11.34(3)(b)2.2. The sale occurs after the person ceased actively operating in the regular course of business as a seller of tangible personal property, items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., or taxable services at that location.

Tax 11.34(3)(bg)(bg) A sale of a motor vehicle, snowmobile, recreational vehicle as defined in s. 340.01 (48r), Stats., trailer, semitrailer, all-terrain vehicle or aircraft that is registered or titled in Wisconsin or required to be registered or titled in Wisconsin, is subject to tax unless s. Tax 11.33 (4) (a) 1. or 2. apply.

Tax 11.34 NoteExample: A business has four business locations in Wisconsin and has ceased all of its business activities at one location. All of the business assets at the location where the business has ceased operating, including one motor vehicle that it used in its business, are being sold. The business is required to continue to hold a seller's permit for its other three locations. The motor vehicle is sold, but the purchaser is not a person described in s. Tax 11.33 (4) (a) 1. or 2. The sale of the motor vehicle is not an exempt occasional sale of a business asset and the seller is required to collect tax on its sale of the motor vehicle.

Tax 11.34(3)(br)(br) A sale of a boat that is registered or titled or required to be registered or titled in Wisconsin or under the laws of the United States is subject to tax unless s. Tax 11.33 (4) (b) 1. applies.

Tax 11.34(3)(c)(c) A sale meeting the conditions in par. (b) is exempt from sales or use tax even though the person holds a seller's permit for one or more other locations.

Tax 11.34(3)(d)(d) The holder of a seller's permit shall wait until ceasing business before requesting the inactivation of the permit because a person may not continue regular business operations without a permit.

Tax 11.34(4)(a)(a) A permit holder may request that the department inactivate its seller's permit by providing the department with the permit holder's name, address, seller's permit number, and the date the permit holder ceased business. The request may be made in any one of the following ways:

Tax 11.34(4)(a)1.1. A permit holder may make a written request for seller's permit inactivation. The department shall presume that the request was made at 12:01 a.m. on the postmark date of a postpaid properly addressed envelope, if the envelope and its contents are actually received by the department. If the retailer desires assurance that the department has received the request, the permit holder may use certified mail, return receipt requested.

Tax 11.34 NoteNote: A person making a written request for seller's permit inactivation should send its request to Wisconsin Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 8902, Madison, WI 53708-8902.

Tax 11.34(4)(a)2.2. A permit holder may make a request for seller's permit inactivation by telephone. The department shall presume that the request was made at 12:01 a.m. on the day the department received the telephone call.

Tax 11.34(4)(a)3.3. A permit holder may make a request for seller's permit inactivation by electronic mail. The department shall presume that the request was made at 12:01 a.m. on the day the department received the electronic mail message.

Tax 11.34(4)(a)4.4. A permit holder may make a request for seller's permit inactivation in person at one of the department's income, sales and excise tax division offices. The department shall presume that the request was made at 12:01 a.m. on the day the department received the request.

Tax 11.34(4)(b)(b) A person who has requested inactivation of its seller's permit may not qualify for the occasional sale exemption if the person contemplates resumption of those activities which would require that the person hold a seller's permit, unless the person qualifies for exemption under sub. (3) (b).

Tax 11.34(4)(c)(c) The fact that a business ceases operating and no longer conducts its day-to-day sales of tangible personal property, items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., or taxable services does not result in the automatic inactivation of its seller's permit.

Tax 11.34(5)(a)(a) Although a seller's permit may be deemed to have been delivered and canceled on a postmark date under sub. (4), cancellation shall not be effective prior to the postmark date.

Tax 11.34(5)(b)(b) If a permit is delivered to the department for cancellation, the permittee shall immediately qualify for the occasional sales exemption, even though the person contemplates a subsequent sale of fixtures or equipment. The person shall not qualify for the occasional sale exemption if the person contemplates resumption of those activities which would require that person to hold a seller's permit.

Tax 11.34(5)(c)(c) The fact that a business ceases operating and no longer conducts its day-to-day sales of tangible personal property, items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., or taxable services may not result in the automatic cancellation of a seller's permit.

Tax 11.34 NoteNote: The interpretations in s. Tax 11.34 are effective under the general sales and use tax law on and after September 1, 1969, except: (a) The procedure in sub. (3) became effective May 4, 1976, and reflects the Wisconsin supreme court's decision in Three Lions Supper Club, Ltd. vs. Dept. of Revenue (May 4, 1976), 72 Wis. 2d 546; (b) The exemption described in sub. (2) (b) became effective May 17, 1988, pursuant to 1987 Wis. Act 399; (c) The requirement that a person surrender its seller's permit within 10 days after the last sale of tangible personal property for the sale of business assets to qualify as an occasional sale was repealed effective August 12, 1993, pursuant to 1993 Wis. Act 16; and (d) The change of the term "gross receipts" to "sales price" and the separate impositions of tax on coins and stamps sold above face value under s. 77.52 (1) (b), Stats., certain leased property affixed to real property under s. 77.52 (1) (c), Stats., and digital goods under s. 77.52 (1) (d), Stats., became effective October 1, 2009, pursuant to 2009 Wis. Act 2.

Tax 11.35(2)(a)(a) "Admission event" means that access to the event involving entertainment is generally restricted to only those who pay a required fee, who make a required donation or who are required to make a purchase of some kind such as a meal or raffle ticket.

Tax 11.35(2)(b)(b) "Entertainment" means entertainment provided at an admission event by all persons or groups who are paid in the aggregate more than $500 per event by all persons for performing, for reimbursement of expenses or for prize money.

Tax 11.35(2)(c)(c) "Nonprofit organization" includes a neighborhood association, church, civic group, garden club, social club or similar organization not operated or organized for profit where no part of the net income inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. A governmental unit described in s. 77.54 (9a), Stats., is considered a "similar organization" for purposes of this paragraph.

Tax 11.35(3)(3)General. A nonprofit organization shall charge Wisconsin sales tax on sales of tangible personal property or items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., and taxable services, unless the sales qualify as exempt occasional sales or are otherwise exempt. The occasional sales exemption does not apply to the sales price from the sale of bingo supplies to players or to the sale, rental or use of regular bingo cards, extra regular cards and special bingo cards.

Tax 11.35(4)(4)Standards. Under s. 77.54 (7m), Stats., a nonprofit organization shall meet all of the following standards for its sales to qualify as exempt occasional sales:

Tax 11.35(4)(b)(b) Entertainment is not involved at an event for which charges by the organization constitute admissions.

Tax 11.35(4)(c)(c) The organization does not have and is not required to have a Wisconsin seller's permit, except for conducting bingo.

Tax 11.35(5)(5)Not engaged in a trade or business. A nonprofit organization is not engaged in a trade or business for purposes of sub. (4) (a) if it meets at least one of the following:

Tax 11.35(5)(a)(a) Its sales of otherwise taxable tangible personal property, items, property, or goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., or services or its events occur on 20 days or less during the calendar year, regardless of the dollar amount of sales. For events involving the sales of tickets, only the actual days of the events are counted, not the days of ticket sales.

Tax 11.35 NoteExample: A boy scout troop takes orders for Christmas wreaths from October 1 through November 1. The wreaths are delivered by the troop on December 15 and 16. For purposes of determining whether its events meet the 20-day test, the troop should use the days of delivery rather than days orders are taken.

Tax 11.35(5)(b)(b) Its taxable sales price for tangible personal property, items, property, and goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), or (d), Stats., and taxable services for the calendar year are $25,000 or less, regardless of the number of days on which its sales or events occur. Sales that are nontaxable are not included for purposes of the $25,000 sales price test.

Tax 11.35 NoteExamples: 1) A church sells frozen pizzas. Since sales of frozen pizzas are exempt from sales tax, the sales of the frozen pizzas are not counted as part of the sales price for purposes of the $25,000 receipts test.

Tax 11.35 Note2) A nonprofit organization, which sells hundreds of Christmas trees, sells 5 Christmas trees for $100 to a public school. Although Christmas trees are taxable tangible personal property, a public school can purchase tangible personal property and items, property, and goods under s. 77.52 (1) (b), (c), and (d), Stats., exempt from sales tax. As a result, this $100 exempt sale to the school is not counted as part of the sales price for purposes of the $25,000 receipts test.

Tax 11.35(6)(a)(a) For a nonprofit organization's sales to qualify as exempt occasional sales, entertainment may not be involved at an event for which charges by that nonprofit organization constitute admissions.

Tax 11.35 NoteExamples: 1) Four different bands are paid $200 each to perform at various times during a 3-day event. There is an admission charge for access to the event. Since the total payment for entertainment ($800) exceeds the $500 limit in sub. (2) (b), entertainment is deemed to be involved. As a result, receipts from the event are taxable.

Tax 11.35 Note2) Two nonprofit organizations co-sponsor an admission event at which a band is hired to perform. Each organization pays the band $300. Since the total payment for entertainment ($600) exceeds the $500 limit in sub. (2) (b), entertainment is deemed to be involved. As a result, receipts from the event are taxable.

Tax 11.35 Note3) A nonprofit organization sponsors a dinner and dance in the high school gymnasium. The dance band is paid in excess of the $500 limit in sub. (2) (b). There is no separate admission charge. However, access to the dance is restricted to those who have purchased the meal. The "meal" charge constitutes an admission charge to an event involving entertainment. Therefore, sales by the nonprofit organization at this event are taxable.

Published under s. 35.93, Stats. Updated on the first day of each month. Entire code is always current. The Register date on each page is the date the chapter was last published. Report errors (608) 266-3151.